UAPB is one of eight men’s basketball teams that will make up the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic field that will commence at Orleans Arena, Dec. 22-23. UAPB’s appearance was confirmed in the Orleans Arena online calendar, but a full tournament bracket was not immediately available.

Texas Tech announced it will play UAPB on Dec. 19 as part of the Classic. UAPB has not confirmed the game.

Each team is expected to play two games away from Orleans Arena before bracket play begins. The Classic field is to include Abilene Christian, Loyola University Chicago, Boise State, Houston, South Carolina State and Southern Utah.

Spencer continues to recover from microfracture knee surgery. He played in only one game last season.

Spencer has 363 tackles, 32 1/2 sacks and one interception in 91 games for the Cowboys since they drafted him in the first round in 2007.

In other team news, the Cowboys placed defensive tackle Amobi Okoye on the active/non-football illness list. He signed with the club in the offseason after missing all of last year due to personal issues.

Texas WRs charged with sexual assault

AUSTIN, Texas — Two University of Texas wide receivers were arrested Thursday and charged with felony sexual assault.

Texas coach Charlie Strong said in a statement that Kendall Sanders and Montrel Meander were suspended indefinitely and would no longer be participating in any team functions.

Sanders and Meander were both charged with second-degree felony sexual assault after they were accused of raping a woman last month inside a university dorm room.

According to an arrest affidavit, the woman, who said she has known both men for over a year, ran into Meander while she was out with friends the night of June 20.

Strong said he’s “been monitoring and addressing the situation” since it was brought to his attention.

Sanders was charged with improper photography or visual recording, a state jail felony, after detectives found at least one photo of the woman on his phone while he was being questioned.

Bail for both men was set at $75,000 on the sexual assault charge. Bail for Sanders’ other charge was $20,000. Both men were booked and released pending an upcoming court date.

Sanders had 37 catches for 361 yards and a touchdown as a sophomore last season. Meander was a redshirt freshman.

NATIONAL

Falcons, White agree to 4-year extension

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — With training camp about to begin, the Atlanta Falcons announced Thursday that they agreed to terms with wide receiver Roddy White on a four-year contract extension.

The deal will keep White tied to the franchise that drafted him through the 2018 season.

White, 32, battled injuries last year and caught 63 passes for 711 yards, his lowest totals since 2006.

Selected with the 27th-overall pick in 2005, White owns club records for career receptions (685) and career receiving yards (9,436). The four-time Pro Bowler has 55 touchdown receptions in 141 career games.

The Falcons open training camp on Friday.

Mariners acquire Morales from Twins

MINNEAPOLIS — The Seattle Mariners acquired first baseman Kendrys Morales from the Minnesota Twins on Thursday for reliever Stephen Pryor.

In 39 games with the Twins, Morales hit .234 with one homer and 18 runs batted in. He spent last season with the Mariners, hitting .277 with 23 homers and 80 RBI.

Pryor made one appearance for the Mariners this season, allowing one unearned run in 1 2/3 innings. In 28 minor-league games, he went 2-2 with a 5.71 ERA in relief.

Pryor was sent to Triple-A Rochester, while the Twins recalled infielder Jorge Polanco from Rochester.

Stroman (6-2) allowed just one hit, walked two and struck out seven over seven scoreless innings for the Blue Jays, who won the final three games of this four-game set. The right-handed rookie has won consecutive starts and improved to 3-0 over his last six trips to the mound.

Francisco went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and drove in four runs for Toronto, which has won five of six overall. The double he couldn’t find, was hit three times by Melky Cabrera, who ended 3-for-4 with two RBI.

Dioner Navarro added two hits and walked twice for the Blue Jays, who pounded out 14 hits to end a seven-game homestand 5-2.

Boston’s Shane Victorino broke up the no-hit bid to lead off the seventh inning. He finished 1-for-3 with a walk as the Red Sox fell to 1-3 on their current seven-game road trip.

WORLD

Nibali expands Tour lead with Stage 18 win

ARGELES-GAZOST, France — Italian Vincenzo Nibali captured Stage 18 of the Tour de France on Thursday and increased his overall lead in cycling’s most prestigious race.

Nibali finished the 145.5-kilometer trek in a time of 4 hours, 4 minutes and 17 seconds for his fourth stage win of this year’s Tour.

The finale in the Pyrenees took the riders from Pau to Hautacam and featured two ascents of the highest category. After climbing the Col du Tourmalet, the stage ended with a push to the top of the Montee du Hautacam.

France’s Thibaut Pinot was 70 seconds behind in second place, while Poland’s Rafal Majka, the Stage 17 winner, was another two seconds back.

Nibali, who won Stage 13 in the Alps, began the day 5 minutes and 26 seconds ahead of Spaniard Alejandro Valverde and now owns an advantage of 7:10 over Pinot.